Proposal to amend the document of the National Development Strategy of the Republic of Croatia until 2030
We would like to point out the omission of one important development and economic segment in the document of the National Development Strategy of the Republic of Croatia until 2030, which we believe will be an important factor in the scientific and economic development of the Republic of Croatia in the coming years. The segment that this document talks about and that we propose to include in the National Development Strategy 2030 is space – space technologies and space economy. Unfortunately, Croatia is the only member of the European Union that has not yet launched its own satellite, and we are not a member of the European Space Agency, although the initial steps have already been taken by signing the Cooperation Agreement with ESA in 2018. By including space in the National Development Strategy 2030 over the next 10 years, we would catch up with other members of the European Union in this segment, and there would be no lack of economic, technological and scientific benefits.
The importance and recognition of space as one of the drivers of future economic progress and scientific development is best illustrated by numerous studies and projections of the world’s largest consulting firms that even have special departments that monitor and analyze trends in the space industry. Morgan Stanley [1] in two of his studies this year predicts the growth of the space industry to more than $ 1 trillion by 2040, and the main drivers of this growth will be launches, satellite Internet, space exploration, lunar exploration, Earth observation, asteroid mining, space tracking waste, space tourism and new materials and technologies. In its review of the 2019 space industry perspective, Deloitte [2] makes its prediction of how much new technologies such as clouds, blockchain, artificial intelligence and machine learning can be integrated into the space industry.
The space industry has a significant impact on increasing employment and GDP, as PricewaterhouseCoopers [3] points out in its 2019 study, which states that European space programs cause multiplier effects of 1.4 to 2.0 on GDP and 1.2 to 2.4 on employment. In a May publication this year, KPMG [4] makes 30 of its predictions for the direction and development of the space industry and space economy. Many of today’s startups will become leaders in the space industry by 2030, and many companies will work directly or indirectly for the space industry.
Developed countries are increasingly focusing on space and space-related activities, and funding for space ventures is shifting from the public sector to the private sector. However, in order for the private sector to invest in space technology, the state must pass certain legislation, but also be a member of international organizations engaged in space exploration such as the European Space Agency (ESA).
Croatia does not have a developed space program, although it has potential through companies that are currently engaged in space technology in the following segments:
– communication
– remote sensing
– data sciences
– Artificial Intelligence
– robotic systems and components
– rocket technology
– advanced materials
– energy production and storage
By including space in the National Development Strategy 2030, we not only open new opportunities for existing companies but also create the preconditions for the emergence of new ones, and we also follow the Joint Statement on Visions and Goals for Europe’s Future in Space, adopted jointly by senior EU and ESA Directorate at a meeting held in Brussels in 2016, as well as the conclusions of the European Council [5] on the key principles of the global space economy of 11.11.2020.
However, space should not be viewed only through the prism of economic benefit. The universe has both enormous educational and scientific significance. The study of space and space technology is an additional challenge for the academic community, and the inclusion of space in the National Development Strategy 2030 would facilitate cooperation and preparation of joint projects with other academic institutions inside and outside Croatia on projects related to space and space technologies. As a very attractive component in the STEM area, we are sure that the space movement could expand in Croatia with great zeal and speed and thus further encourage the development of Croatian STEM. By including space in the National Development Strategy 2030, we open the possibility for future generations to keep pace with global technological trends and to be ready for the world of tomorrow.
By including space in the National Development Strategy 2030, we facilitate synergies between the education and real sectors, send the message that we want to become a high-tech country, facilitate the development of a whole new sector and, most importantly, provide future generations with the knowledge they will need in the near future.
Having in mind all the arguments presented in this document, we hope that you will include space – space technologies and space economy in the National Development Strategy 2030.
Prof. dr. sc. Slobodan Bosanac
president
Members of A3:
Amphinicy d.o.o.
Stevče Arsoski, ing.el. mentor, Tehnička škola Sisak
Mislav Balković, dr. sc., VU Algebra, Dekan
Ognjan Božić, TU Braunschweig, hon. Prof. Dr.-Ing., akademik IAA
Neven Braut, Interval d.o.o, dipl. ing., CEO
Željko Galić, dipl. ing, SPAN d.o.o. Direktor međunarodnog razvoja poslovanja
Hrvoje Gold, prof. dr. sc., FPZ Sveučilište u Zagrebu
Tomislav Grubeša, dipl. ing., Geolux d.o.o. CEO
Dalibor Hatić, dipl. ing., OIKON d.o.o., CEO
Mile Ivanda, dr. sc., Institut Ruđer Bošković, znanstveni savjetnik
Ante Jukić, prof. dr. sc., FKIT Sveučilište u Zagrebu
Zoran Kahrić, NASA, Lead Test Engineer
Igor Kekez, mag. Aeronautike
Filip Kisić, VU Algebra
Marko Kralj, dr. sc., Institut za fiziku, ravnatelj
Jurica Kundrata, dr. sc., FER Sveučilište u Zagrebu, vodeći istraživač
Stanislav Kurajica, Prof. dr. sc. , Sveučilište u Zagrebu Fakultet kemijskog inženjerstva i tehnologije
Matija Makoter, Fakultet strojarstva i brodogradnje
Vilko Mandić, Doc. dr. sc. , Sveučilište u Zagrebu Fakultet kemijskog inženjerstva i tehnologije
Branimir Miletić, Business Analyst, IIBA Croatia Chapter
Mario Muštra, prof. dr. sc., FPZ Sveučilište u Zagrebu
Luka Orsag, mag. ing. mech., R&D Computer vision engineer
Silvio Papić, dipl. ing., VU Algebra
Mirko Planinić, prof. dr. sc., PMF Sveučilište u Zagrebu, Dekan
Damir Preksavec .dipl. ing. str.,prof. Centar odgoja i obrazovanja Mali Lošinj i Srednja škola Ambroza Haračića Mali Lošinj
Ida Srdić, Institut Ruđer Bošković, Savjetnik za inovacije
Zdenko Uvalić, CEng, MIMechE, Airbus, Structural Enginee
Hrvoje Zorc, dr. sc., znanstveni savjetnik
[1] https://www.morganstanley.com/ideas/investing-in-space https://www.morganstanley.com/Themes/global-space-economy
[2] https://www2.deloitte.com/content/dam/Deloitte/us/Documents/public-sector/space-perspective-on-tech- trends-2019.pdf
[3] https://www.pwc.fr/fr/assets/files/pdf/2019/06/fr-pwc-main-trends-and-challenges-in-the-space-sector.pdf
[4] https://assets.kpmg/content/dam/kpmg/au/pdf/2020/30-voices-on-2030-future-of-space.pdf
[5] https://www.consilium.europa.eu/media/46730/st12851-en20.pdf
Hrvatski
The Regional Center of Competence in the sector of electrical engineering and computer science of the Technical School Sisak was established. Within the Center, there is a Practicum for Space Technology in which students will acquire competencies in the development, testing and launch of satellites. At the founding meeting on December 4, 2020 of the working group for space technologies, the director of TŠ Sisak prof. Davor Malović gave a detailed overview of the work and financial support to the Regional Center. These are members of the working group
At the International Space University (ISU), a detailed analysis of the position of the Republic of Croatia on the issue of the space program was made. The document was compiled by students under the direction of prof. Gongling Sun within the ISU International Relations Department. ISU has close ties with the most important space agencies, ESA is one of the main sponsors, and this document is important as an independent insight into the state and possible development of the space program in the Republic of Croatia.